To vaccinate health staff, or not to vaccinate

With the H1N1 flu pandemic on the loose, the spectre of an unvaccinated doctor or nurse has ignited an old debate: Should flu vaccines -- and specifically the H1N1 shot -- be mandatory for health workers?

The Association of Local Public Health Agencies in Ontario thinks so. Already on record supporting mandatory seasonal flu shots for health workers, the group says that applies to H1N1, too.

"Our position is it should be mandatory irrespective of the pandemic; our position is on seasonal flu, which this could turn out to be," said Gordon Fleming, manager of public health issues. "The flu is the flu is the flu."